On the day Mrs Chaggar's body was found, the court heard the smell in the shop was stronger and Abdul Hannan, who is also accused of her murder, asked his staff to find the source of it as customers were commenting.

Islam and Rasad Miah went to investigate the cellar area and Islam climbed down the hatch and discovered Mrs Chaggar's body.

Police outside the shop where Harjit Chaggar's body was found

Islam told the court it was dark in the area and he used a torch on a mobile phone and spotted what he thought was the head and shoulders of a person. The police were then called.

The court also heard Islam was married but did not have any children and was a British citizen.

When he was asked how he got his citizenship, he said: "Through my father. He was a major in the British Army."

Before working at the Sani Globe, Islam, of Windmill Road, Gillingham, had worked at various Indian restaurants in Strood and Gillingham.

Another of the accused, Murshed Miah, decided not to give evidence - but several of his friends and one of his cousins gave evidence about his character to Canterbury Crown Court.

They said he was a shy, gentle person who was a family man and had a caring nature and would help them if they needed it.

Police at the back of the Sani Globe Food store after Mrs Chaggar's body was found

Mrs Chaggar's body was found 12 days after she went missing after leaving the Kings Family Practice in Magpie Hall Road on September 2 last year.

The prosecution claims Mrs Chaggar had been assaulted and bled to death in the basement store room of the shop before being thrown through a hatch while still alive.